Exfoliation I Am

EXFOLIATION, I AM In my advanced age am I but The castoff--remnants Of a vitality that once was and has been pushed aside? Am I only its exfoliation? I don’t want to think so, but that is now; What came before is shown below: For decades three plus three Nature with her laws discovered by Newton, Boyle, Bernoulli Was companion to me As I experienced the excitement of creativity In my work overriding the possible drudgery Of jobs that have little rewarding activity. Half century plus ten I was blessed with Wife and family and the role of Provider, father, lover shared with She Who enlivened me. Car full headed North, lake in view, Wife, three kids oh so very excited. Driving West, mountain view. Watch for antelope, but watch for rattlers uninvited. Reading aloud became good habit, Followed the adventures of rascally Brer Rabbit. Later the kids entered college by matriculation. Then we proudly attended their graduation. Followed by weddings three, Grandkids soon to be. A basement room all mine to whittle and carve, Saw and drill, all to my own design! And all this with wife’s loving smile, Nurturing care for me and family. And special nighttime treat for me: The warm curves of femininity. Yes, a house, a home, a nest For fulfillment of many a quest. Then all suddenly gone--no more Wife taken by stroke at 84. Now living alone in senior facility for independence With feelings of life in the deep-end-ence Of water’s eddying spirals Of gremlin virals In Devil’s domain Of assorted pains And energy gone south. Through West window I can see A hospital’s room emergency reminding me Of the fragility of my mortality. Enough of this gloom! Look about this room, There are friends on end! I do have a special friend, One who sustains me And when I do see often The hardness of loneliness does soften. I see no need of future to aspire to, just experience today. For now, yes, we have the exfoliation Of our prior activities whose flakes are shards Of knowledge and creativity. Use them! Exfoliated for me has been a love of writing poetry. (on that I needn’t expound; On reading here I trust you’ve found). When at times I feel alone and tired to the bone I must remember I can draw on the past (not live what was last ) Or devise something new for something to do The next hour or two. Adhere fast to life! (with rivet or glue)* JUST LIVE IT! * As an avid consumer of metaphoric humor This; rivet or glue, I couldn’t resist. So see, just writing this has brought life to me!